Q&A with Fortify – Formnext 2018 startup challenge winner

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This week the additive manufacturing industry gathers in Frankfurt, Germany for the annual Formnext tradeshow. In addition to the large and established enterprises are the winners of the 2018 Formnext startup challenge. 3D Printing Industry caught up with these companies to find out more.

3D Printing Industry: When was your company founded and where are operations based?

At Fortify, we believe in a world where materials are constructed from the microarchitecture up, allowing forces to dictate form. By combining Digital Composite Manufacturing, cutting edge material science, and a passion for making a positive impact on the planet, Fortify strives to change and improve how the world makes and manufactures.

Fortify breaks the cycle of long lead times and inferior materials in traditional manufacturing. For too long, engineers have had to choose between mechanical properties and ease of fabrication. With the introduction of the world’s first Digital Composites Manufacturing Platform, Fortify brings advanced materials in reach. We manufacture composites with precise fiber alignment, creating optimized materials for a broad range of engineering applications for engineers, designers, and innovators across industries.

3D Printing Industry: How does your company fit into the additive manufacturing ecosystem?

Fortify is positioning ourselves as the industry’s first microparticle-reinforced, high-resolution additive manufacturing composite platform. By introducing reinforcing additives to our thermosetting resins, we are able to bridge the gap in performance between plastics and metals.

3D Printing Industry: What are you hoping to gain from exhibiting at formnext 2018?

We would like to treat formnext as a springboard and to connect with potential customers and partners.

3D Printing Industry: How would you describe the roadmap for your enterprise over the coming years?

At our current stage, we are operating as a service provider, providing parts as a service to select customers. It is our intention to launch our Beta Program towards the tail end of 2019, taking pre-orders for production units mid- to late-2020.

Michael Petch is the editor-in-chief at 3DPI and the author of several books on 3D printing. He is a regular keynote speaker at technology conferences where he has delivered presentations such as 3D printing with graphene and ceramics and the use of technology to enhance food security. Michael is most interested in the science behind emerging technology and the accompanying economic and social implications.